Improvement in fans



UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

nnnsr SCHMIDT, or new YORK, n. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,224, dated January 26, 1875; application filed November 17, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ERNST Soumnr, at

New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ladies Fan, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 1s a side view, partly in section, of my improved ladies fan, showing the same 7 extended. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, showing it contracted; and Fig. 3 a top view, partly insection, of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to a new oscillating fan, which is applicable to a central rod or to part-to the wings the necessary motion for dis turbing the air.

In-the accompanying drawing, the letter A represents the stem of aparasoi'pr other suitable rod. B is a sleeve or collar placed loosely around thestem, so that it can he moved up and down thereon. A pin, a, extends from thesleeve B into a spiral groove, 1), which is formed in the rod A, or vice versa, so that the sleeve B, whenever it is moved up or down on .the rod, must also necessarily turn thereon as its pin a moves in the spiral groove b. A suitable spring, (1, preferably a spiral spring, em-

bracing the rod A, crowds the collar B into one terminal position, and a suitable cord, 6, or other'means, may be attached to the collar B for drawing said collar against the spring d.

- Thus, when the parts are arranged in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the

wearer need only draw the string 6 down, which can be conveniently done by one finger of the hand that holds the rod A, thereby contracting the spring (I, and then, by releasiug the string slightly, the spring d will propel the-collar up again, &c., the reciprocating movement thus imparted to the collar being at the same time converted into a partial rotary movement, as already described. To the reciprocating rotary collar B are pivoted the radial ribs f of a series of fans, (J (J. Each fan consists of a suitable number of ribs, f, that are connected by a piece of fabric, 9, constituting the body of the fan. The inner ends of the rod f of each fan are united by one pivot to the collar B, as shown, and by this pivot-connection each fan is made contractible and extensible, they being shown extended in Fig. 1 and contracted-in Fig. 2. When extended, they are swung up into a horizontalpositioni. 6., at about right angles to the rod Aas shown, and serve, when the above-described motion is imparted to the collar B, to agitate the air in the required manner for fans ning the person that uses the instrument. When not to be used, the fans are contracted and swung down along the rod, A,' as in Fig. 2, and the string 6 can then be used to tie the fans around the rod, as shown.. A suitable number of fans, 0, may be arranged around the collar, three being illustrated in Fig. 3. Small .springs, k, may be used for connecting the upper part of every fan with the upper part of the collar B, so that each fan may -.be drawn and held up into the horizontal position by such spring has soon as such fan is released by the untying of the string 0. As an attachment to ladies parasols, fans of this description are intended to be particularly useful, because they will enable ladies to fan themselves while walking in the street, or also when sitting in a vehicle or room with the parasol in hand.

I claim as my iuverition-- The combination of the 'rod A, carrying the spring (I, with the collar B, pin -a, groove 1), and with the string-e and fan-blades c, all combined and arranged as described, so that the alternate action of the string and sprin g 

